Chapter 308: Life in the World, All Depends on Acting

"Please invite Daniel over!"

Li Li Dongling said to Su Chicheng. Seeing Su Chicheng leave, Ren Ren Yuefeng, who was sitting on the side, couldn't help but ask Li Li Dongling with a bit of worry, "Will Daniel and Logitech agree to the conditions we proposed?"

This time, Li Li Dongling was prepared to bite off a large piece of meat from Logitech. Even Ren Ren Yuefeng felt a bit blushing when he heard those conditions.

"The ancients said, take advantage of its illness to take its life. Over the years, Logitech has eaten enough dividends relying on the Silver Mink mechanical mouse patent. Now it is time to pay a price. Is Li Dongling High-Tech's cheapness so easy to occupy?"

Li Li Dongling said indifferently, "If it weren't for the fact that Microsoft is indeed watching from the sidelines, this time, Logitech would definitely not be let off easily!"

Compared to Logitech, Microsoft is more worrying. This number one "blacker" in the American tech industry is not blown out. The title of industry "herbicide" is not worn by others. As long as it enters an industry, which one is not turned upside down by it? As long as it can confront Microsoft and not let Silver Mink fight alone, it is necessary to leave some backhands. Even if it is just cheering.

In addition, Logitech is one of the most influential computer peripheral brands in Europe and America. Keeping it, maybe one day, will have unexpected effects.

One day in the future, if Li Dongling High-Tech and its brands like Shenzhou, Silver Mink, Coolpad, etc., are targeted and not allowed to be sold in America, if Logitech is there, maybe it can play a hand of "dark crossing the Chen Cang."

Just like in the previous life, after America did not allow domestic products to be sold in America, Mexico overnight popped up a large number of new brands, starting to sell products to America continuously, and the components of these brands were mostly imported from China, and then assembled in Mexico, which is the so-called Mexico becoming America's largest supplier.

If Li Dongling High-Tech also encounters such an encounter one day, then keeping a few brands like Logitech as vests can be regarded as a backhand. Of course, the premise is that Li Dongling High-Tech and Silver Mink can hold Logitech, which must include equity, otherwise everything is empty talk.

"Daniel, long time no see, very happy you can come to the mainland!"

When seeing Daniel, Li Li Dongling stood up, as if he had just heard that Daniel had arrived in Pingyang. Daniel also had a smile on his face, without the annoyance of sitting on the cold bench for several days.

"I am also honored to see Li you again!" Daniel said after shaking hands with Li Li Dongling.

Looking at Li Li Dongling in front of him, thinking of the scene when he first met Li Li Dongling in Switzerland, it only made him feel that things are different.

"To be honest, I didn't expect that the startup company that came to cooperate with Logitech at the beginning would become what it is now!

Shenzhou digital cordless phones are also used by Logitech, and now Shenzhou U-disks, Li Dongling High-Tech is becoming an existence that changes the tech industry."

Listening to Daniel's words, which were blowing Li Dongling High-Tech on the surface, but also secretly reminding Li Li Dongling that Logitech saved Silver Mink at the beginning! 【308-1

Listening to Daniel, it sounded like he was overtly flattering Li Dongling High-Tech, but he was also subtly reminding Li Li Dongling that it was Logitech that had saved Yindiao's life back then!

"Yindiao and Li Dongling High-Tech will not forget the two million dollars that Logitech used to support Yindiao back then!"

Li Li Dongling had not forgotten, nor would he deny, that Logitech had paid two million dollars in patent fees for Yindiao back then, which served as the capital for the lawsuit against Microsoft.

Hearing this, the corners of Daniel's mouth curled up slightly. As long as Li Li Dongling still acknowledged this debt, what he had to say next would be easier. Whether in the East or the West, there were various versions of the farmer and the snake. Logitech had saved Yindiao once; Yindiao couldn't just drive Logitech to extinction, could it?

However, before Daniel could even speak, Li Li Dongling's next words made his expression change drastically.

"But that two million dollars was not a gift. If I remember correctly, Yindiao exchanged multiple mechanical mouse patent licenses for those two million dollars, right?

A two-million-dollar transfer fee, plus an annual patent royalty of 1.5 million—over these years, the patent fees Logitech has paid to Yindiao shouldn't have exceeded eight million dollars, right?

And how many dollars has Yindiao's mechanical mouse patent earned back for Logitech each year? Two hundred million, three hundred million, or five hundred million dollars?"

Li Li Dongling said "casually" to Daniel, but cold sweat began to drip down the latter's forehead.

Logitech's annual revenue was now around 500 million dollars. Especially in the few years since the appearance of the mechanical mouse, relying on OEM manufacturing, its own brand of mice, and the global explosion of the computer industry, Logitech's revenue had been rising steadily.

But over 70% or even more of this revenue was earned back from mechanical mice. In other words, relying on the Yindiao mechanical mouse patent, Logitech had earned at least over a billion dollars over these years.

Of course, the net profit might not be that high, but one had to look at the comparison. After all, how much patent royalty had Logitech given Yindiao over these years? It wasn't even ten million dollars, yet they had earned as much as a billion dollars.

Li Li Dongling acknowledged that Logitech had a life-saving grace toward Yindiao back then, but if one were to say that Logitech hadn't received any return, Li Li Dongling wouldn't be very satisfied.

Furthermore, if it hadn't been for Yindiao daring to defy the world and running to America to fight a patent lawsuit against Microsoft, then perhaps today, Microsoft might have already unified the mouse industry relying on mechanical mice. Where would it be Daniel's turn to be here spouting nonsense with Li Li Dongling?

Why were Logitech, HP, Dell, Compaq, and IBM willing to cheer for Li Dongling High-Tech back then? They weren't great philanthropists; rather, their tolerance for Microsoft's moves in the computer hardware industry had reached its limit. Li Dongling High-Tech back then just happened to be at the right time to ignite public opinion.

"We received news that we heard Logitech is preparing for a listing on the Swiss Exchange. We must congratulate CEO Daniel!"

Ren Ren Yuefeng suddenly spoke up at this moment. This was originally something Daniel was proud of; he would personally elevate Logitech to the status of a listed company.

But listening to it now, it sounded particularly harsh. Logitech could prepare for a listing because such high performance was mostly earned relying on Yindiao's mechanical mouse patent. Now he was accusing Yindiao mouse of forgetting the life-saving grace of the past. Hearing this, one always felt something was wrong.

Even for Daniel, there was a hint of awkwardness in his expression, but he adjusted quickly. As a professional manager, if one didn't have a thick skin, how could one survive? Besides, could face be more important than dollars? Could one give up dollars just for the sake of face?

Daniel said with a somewhat dry voice, "Logitech and Yindiao are allies. If Logitech falls, then Yindiao will definitely become Microsoft's next opponent!

Believe me, Microsoft doesn't care about any allies at all. IBM and Apple are the best examples!"

"Logitech needs Yindiao's optical mouse patent. Logitech surviving is beneficial to Yindiao. Facts will prove this point!"

The old matter of saving Yindiao back then could no longer be mentioned. Daniel could only rack his brains to think of a plan to persuade Li Li Dongling.

"If Li Dongling High-Tech is willing to license Yindiao's optical mouse patent to Logitech, I believe Logitech will provide sufficient returns!" Daniel said after taking a deep breath.

Upon hearing this, Li Li Dongling fell into "deep thought," seemingly considering Daniel's proposal. But Ren Ren Yuefeng, who was on the side, undermined him, saying, "Yindiao is currently in negotiations with computer manufacturers like Apple and Compaq. Yindiao is fully capable of securing these orders itself and earning this 400 million dollars in revenue annually!"

"Yindiao might not necessarily be able to secure these orders!"

Daniel blurted out, then made an apologetic gesture, "I don't mean to question Yindiao's technical aspects, but Yindiao wanting to secure orders is indeed not that easy!"

"Logitech has already established long-term cooperation mechanisms with major computer manufacturers. Changing a supplier is not that easy. Even if they do change, it might not necessarily be Yindiao's turn!"

Daniel said "kindly" to Ren Ren Yuefeng, "You should also be clear that among suppliers, sometimes it's not necessarily the one with the best technology that can secure orders, especially since Yindiao is still a mainland brand from Asia. In Europe, because of mainland products in Eastern Europe, mainland goods are not that popular in Europe!

Those computer brands not only need to consider technology but also the user's acceptance of parts suppliers!"

Ren Ren Yuefeng cursed inwardly but couldn't refute Daniel. That bunch of profiteers from the country had made a fortune in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in previous years and then walked away, but the mess they left behind would continue to have an impact for many years, causing people in Europe to have a quite poor impression of mainland brands for a time.

When computer brand manufacturers chose parts suppliers, they would also have concerns, especially if the media fanned the flames. Then, for the sake of their influence, computer brands would also abandon this supplier, even if its technology was better!

As for whether the media would fan the flames, just think about it with your toes; competitors would probably play it that way. Even if Logitech didn't play it that way, other competitors would definitely do so. In the face of dollars, testing the human heart is the most unreliable thing.

"Additionally," Daniel glanced at Li Li Dongling before saying cautiously, "Logitech is willing to follow the rules and is willing to pay mouse patent fees, but if it were other companies, it might not necessarily be so. Not all companies will follow the rules like Logitech!"

"Li Dongling High-Tech will fight lawsuits to the end against any company that dares to infringe on Yindiao's patents. Microsoft couldn't do it back then, and other companies can't do it now either!"

Ren Ren Yuefeng said "furiously." Looking at Ren Ren Yuefeng's expression, Li Li Dongling couldn't help but sigh. This thick-browed and big-eyed guy, Ren Ren Yuefeng, had now honed his acting skills. Truly, life in this world is all about acting.

But the effect was outstanding. Seeing the furious Ren Ren Yuefeng, Daniel was also somewhat worried. Don't look at how confidently he spoke; if he really provoked Ren Ren Yuefeng into breaking off cooperation, then Logitech would also be in big trouble!

"CEO Daniel!"

At the critical moment, it was Li Li Dongling who spoke up, stopping Ren Ren Yuefeng and making Daniel heave a long sigh of relief.

(End of chapter)